Underground Railroad By Colson Whitehead

For the first 50 or so pages this book seemed like it would be a difficult and uncomfortable book to read. Sometimes American literature seems too self-conscious and feels it needs to prove itself insofar that it does not have the long heritage of many other European countries. This makes American writers come across as impenetrable to me. I was not enthused with this book to begin with but my the time the principle character Cora had escaped the style of writing became much lighter in style and the book was transformed into something hugely compelling and indeed remarkable. If you stick with this novel I think you will be richly rewarded. Whilst the novel does have literary pretensions, the story ultimately becomes an edge-of-the seat page turning thriller. I can understand why some reviewers found the initial chapters difficult but the book evolves into something that is hugely descriptive and with a sense of danger and menace which permeates the novel like nothing else I have ever read. Whilst the whole concept of an actual underground railway is an elaborate twist on the name given to a network dedicated to rescuing escaped slaves, there is a lot of historical research which has gone in to this book as well as references to later incidents such as the notorious Tuskegee Experiment. The book is often uncomfortable and there is an underlying and understandable resentment of the racist nature of America and the battles it's black population had to overcome to assert themselves. This is a novel that does not withhold it's punches yet offers up a mirror to American society today. I would have to say that the novel is like a tapestry where the various elements eventually coalesce and you are taken on a journey which is often fascinating, repellent and rewarding depending upon which chapter you are reading. The villains in the piece are repugnant and menacing. Ridgeway is one of the most believable villains I have encountered in a book. Not all the white characters are bad and it is nice to see that things are so nuanced. The detestable Homer is scary because his motives are never really explained. Not sure why a macabre black boy should work for a slave catcher. I am usually quite negative about American literature. In the past I have been disappointed by writers such as Scot F Fitzgerald who are deemed to represent the "American experience." As a rule, I avoid American writers due to these feelings. Having said this, I would have to say that this book represents exactly how I feel about America. The white characters are especially well drawn in this novel and this appertains to both the liberal characters and racists described within this book. Even those who appear to have good intentions transpire to be misguided.At the end of the day, what sells this book for me is the fact that you want to talk about it and tell everyone how good it is after you have finished it. It really sticks in your mind, If it has a flaw, it is that there is a sense of foreboding throughout the book which makes you rush through the pages. This means that you sometimes miss the beauty in the language. Deemed a "science fiction " novel, this is somewhat of a miscasting as I feel this is a book that everyone needs to read. This would make a terrific film but I would urge anyone who loves books to pick this novel up and give it a try before it hits the big screen. Thoroughly recommended.

I've had lots of recommendations to read this book and it has had huge amounts of media attention so I come to it with big expectations.366 pages, split into 12 chapters, the titles of which show the progression to The North.Disappointingly, I found this book to be really hard going. There is no doubt that it is a worthy subject and it is well written but I found it very difficult to connect with anything at all in the novel.It almost feels shameful to not want to read about the terrors of slavery but it seemed that the author was writing for literary praise without concentrating on engaging with the average reader.The parallel world was a bit odd and gave the novel a disjointed impression which did not flow well at all. I'm sure there was something deep going on but it passed me by and I won;t recommend this book to anyone else.This period in American history is unfamiliar to me and I needed more context to be able to place the characters. Here we are thrown into a situation and expected to work everything out which lessened the powerful effect of the story.

This is a breath-taking read; it's destined I am sure, to be a classic.The writing is lyrical and poetic and crafted with care and a real sense of artistry. The story is utterly compelling and takes a real grip early on and never lets it's tightness ease. The characters are crafted with care and loving attention and their stories draw massive emotional responses. It's hard to fathom the evil and totality of the Slavery Experience, it's savagery and ruthlessness and the way it pock marked itself so deeply into the culture of The South-and beyond. It's impact reasonates today causing a torrent of complex problems & challenges for modern day America.This is a bleak read but it also inspires as the central characters try to retain their dignity and Hope in a period of unrelenting primeval savagery.The pace of the book is fierce and you root for the Slaves. There are one or two moments of exhilaration amidst the despair and murderous culture.Parts of the book ride a rocky road in trying to stretch the debate between the protagonists and for me the weakest section is in the interchange between the Slave Catcher ,Ridgeway, and Cara. That part just doesn't work.But it's a rare moment in an otherwise superlative read. This is a simply magnificent book which is beautifully written, imaginatively constructed and powerfully realised.Highly recommended and one of my Books of the Decade.

I had great hopes for this book but found it quite disappointing. Cora was some how not believable and her story passive. The underground railroad was meant (I assume) to be a cleaver trick but just made the whole thing even more unbelievable and insulting to the real people who ran the real underground railroad.Slavery was and is totally awful and it is a story of cruelty for economic gain and the result of seeing people as less than human - this being the basis of appalling racism. There were a few episodes that capture the horror and brutality of it and I fearful of being seen as someone who trivialises it but in a strange way the book does that.Cora just like Dick Barton was save at the last moment when somehow a saviour or saviours turned up. This made it certain that she would ride off into the sunset. Those who died brutal deaths and who remain as a scar on the people who used slavery so casually got lost in this book.

It is impossible to overstate just how good a book this is since the word 'Masterpiece' has become overused to the point of not really meaning very much.Rather like the word 'Legend' one might say.This book however, is not like that. Because truly, this book...is a bona fide masterpiece.I write a little myself. And there are times when I feel I can hold my own. But then there are other times...when reading something this good that you simply have to sit back and smile.And wonder why you bother.And just stand back...And clap.If my name was Colson Whitehead...and I wrote not another novel aside this one, I reckon I could go to my grave a happy man.Oh man, this is but good.Jaw dropping thought, insight and most of all, language on every page.There have been 1000's of 'reviews' written of this book.Personally, I wouldn't and couldn't presume.So I write this only in the highly unlikely hope Mr Whitehead occasionally pops in to see what mere mortals like me have had the temerity to write about his book.For I wanted to say this...Thank you Colson. I feel enriched. Enriched for having read your amazing, brilliant and beautiful piece of work.Because really, it really is....quite something. Something brilliant and beautiful and written in not such brilliant and beautiful times.With great good wishes from your friends across the pond my friend.